The New England Patriots fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first time since 2011 on Sunday, losing by a score of 17-10 and dropping to 9-5 on the season.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw a crucial interception with his team down by four points at the 7:43 mark of the fourth quarter, and while that pick did not necessarily seal New England's fate, it ended up being the final nail in the coffin.

Brady insists he was just trying to throw the ball away, according to Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston.

“I was just trying to flick it out of bounds,” Brady said. “I didn't want to take the sack. Shouldn't happen.”

Brady completed 25 of his his 36 passes for 279 yards, a touchdown and that interception.

On the year overall, the 41-year-old has thrown for 3,979 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine picks while completing 65.9 percent of his passes and registering a passer rating of 97.9.

It's rare that the Patriots lose back-to-back games, in December, no less, but that's where they currently find themselves after close losses to the Miami Dolphins and the Steelers in consecutive weeks.

New England could have clinched the AFC East title by beating Pittsburgh on Sunday, but instead, the Pats will have to wait one more week. They may also have to say goodbye to a first-round bye, as the Patriots fell to third place in the AFC standings.

This will also mark the first time since 2009 that New England will have a season where it did not win at least 12 games, as the Steelers handed the Pats their fifth loss.